China collaborates with Pakistan in hybrid wheat to boost crop yield

BEIJING - Beijing Engineering Research Center for Hybrid Wheat (BERCHW) has provided selected varieties of hybrid wheat to Pakistan, suitable for plantation in different parts of the country with the objective to boost crop production.For last few years, BERCHW, China’s leading scientific research institute, was in close collaboration with Pakistan’s both public and private sectors to enhance staple crop production. Some of the varieties were suitable for local environments and have shown positive results. BERCHW, besides extending technical & scientific assistance to Pakistan, has so far also provided free of cost 12000 kgs of hybrid wheat seeds. For on the spot expert advice, several Chinese agriculture scientists also visited Pakistan. Besides, transfer of technology, Chinese experts have trained Pakistani counterparts so that they could disseminate their knowledge to their colleagues to make the country achieve food autarky. It is expected that within couple of years, hybrid wheat will be cultivated in vast areas on commercial basis in Pakistan. Pakistani students, numbering in hundreds, were also studying in various areas of agriculture and livestock in different higher learning educational institutions in Beijing and other provinces of China. These students also included those doing their doctorate degrees.Pakistan Embassy in Beijing has played a significant role in establishing such collaborations and always extended complete support and best possible facilitation to both sides. BERCHW works under Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences (BAAFS) and is the leading scientific research institute of hybrid wheat. About 150 researchers have devoted themselves on research and scientific work. BERCHW achievements have also been acknowledged by Chinese government. It also greatly contributed in addressing food security issue for such a huge Chinese population.